Julian
Member
- Joined
- 20 Jul 2013
- Messages
- 688
So I've been struggling to grow a carpet in my tank for over a year. I've tried just about everything I can think of to improve the results but they always end up the same - after a couple of weeks, the plants turn transparent and melt. Everything I've read tells me that this is not enough CO2/too much light, but I've gassed my fish and lowered my lighting without this improving things.
Some information about my setup:
Tank: TMC Signature 600 (100L)
Filter: Fluval 306 (media trays are half full to improve flow)
Lights: 2 x TMC Mini 400 LED's running at 30%
CO2: FE + CO2art Dual Stage Reg + Up in-line atomizer
Heating: Hydor inline
Substrate: ADA Amazonia
Fertiliser: EI dry dosing (APFUK) 3/16 KNO3 + 1/16 KH2PO4, 1/16 Trace + MGSO4 (I forget the exact amount off the top of my head but it's about twice as much KNO3)
pH is 7.0 before CO2 comes on, the lowest I can get it before the fish start to gasp is 6.2. I have 2 dropcheckers, one at substrate level and one at water level on opposite sides of the tank, both are lime green/yellowish at lights on. I'm using one of the cheap yellow ebay pH pens and keep it in probe solution fluid. I've calibrated it a few times but it's never been more than 0.1+/- out after a few weeks of being in the storage solution.
CO2 comes on 3 hours before lights on (I could get away with 2 but like to be sure) and goes off about an hour before the lights. Spray bar is at the back, creates cylindrical flow pattern, CO2 bubbles can be visibly seen to be passing in proximity to plants. I'm assuming that a Fluval 306 (meant for a 300L) with half the media trays empty should provide sufficient turnover. The jets of water coming out of the spray bar can easily reach the front of the tank, my only concern is that the holes may be too small and I might benefit from a spray bar with bigger holes.
This is what the tank looked like just after planting, 2 or 3 weeks later the glosso has all melted. The other plants are OK but not great.
As mentioned, I've tried increasing CO2 and lowering my light levels but this does not help. I've bought the same plant from different ebay sellers to see if this made any difference but it has not.
I have some more plants arriving soon but I'm at a loss as to what else to try.
Some information about my setup:
Tank: TMC Signature 600 (100L)
Filter: Fluval 306 (media trays are half full to improve flow)
Lights: 2 x TMC Mini 400 LED's running at 30%
CO2: FE + CO2art Dual Stage Reg + Up in-line atomizer
Heating: Hydor inline
Substrate: ADA Amazonia
Fertiliser: EI dry dosing (APFUK) 3/16 KNO3 + 1/16 KH2PO4, 1/16 Trace + MGSO4 (I forget the exact amount off the top of my head but it's about twice as much KNO3)
pH is 7.0 before CO2 comes on, the lowest I can get it before the fish start to gasp is 6.2. I have 2 dropcheckers, one at substrate level and one at water level on opposite sides of the tank, both are lime green/yellowish at lights on. I'm using one of the cheap yellow ebay pH pens and keep it in probe solution fluid. I've calibrated it a few times but it's never been more than 0.1+/- out after a few weeks of being in the storage solution.
CO2 comes on 3 hours before lights on (I could get away with 2 but like to be sure) and goes off about an hour before the lights. Spray bar is at the back, creates cylindrical flow pattern, CO2 bubbles can be visibly seen to be passing in proximity to plants. I'm assuming that a Fluval 306 (meant for a 300L) with half the media trays empty should provide sufficient turnover. The jets of water coming out of the spray bar can easily reach the front of the tank, my only concern is that the holes may be too small and I might benefit from a spray bar with bigger holes.
This is what the tank looked like just after planting, 2 or 3 weeks later the glosso has all melted. The other plants are OK but not great.
As mentioned, I've tried increasing CO2 and lowering my light levels but this does not help. I've bought the same plant from different ebay sellers to see if this made any difference but it has not.
I have some more plants arriving soon but I'm at a loss as to what else to try.